Southern California -- this just in

Long Beach Occupy protesters urge council to let them camp

November 15, 2011 | 11:13
pm

In a Tuesday night meeting, supporters and members of the Long Beach Occupy movement urged the City Council to approve a 24-hour free speech zone that would allow them to pitch tents at a park adjacent to Long Beach City Hall.

They also submitted a petition for the request, which was signed by 540 people.

The Long Beach protests began in mid-October, but members of the movement have been unable to camp out at Lincoln Park; city ordinances forbid overnight camping in public parks.